Removal of contaminants from a fluid

Abstract

A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from a fluid are disclosed. The fluid is introduced into a decontamination chamber such that the fluid is cooled and contaminants fall out within the decontamination chamber, producing a purified fluid. The purified fluid is then retrieved and can be used in a supercritical processing system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A decontamination system for providing a purified temperature controlled fluid, comprising:
 a first filter element; 
 a first flow control element coupled to the first filter element; 
 a decontamination module coupled to the first flow control element; 
 a bypass element; coupled to the first flow control element 
 a second flow control element coupled to the decontamination module and coupled to the bypass element; 
 a second filter element coupled to the second flow control element; and 
 a controller coupled to the first filter element, coupled to the first flow control element, coupled to the decontamination module, coupled to the second flow control element, coupled to the second filter element, wherein the controller comprises means for determining a contaminant level for a first fluid entering the decontamination system, means for comparing the contaminant level to a threshold value, and means for diverting the first fluid to the decontamination module when the contaminant level is greater than the threshold value and to the bypass element when the contaminant level is less than or equal to the threshold value. 
 
     
     
       2. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter element comprises a coarse filter, or a fine filter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises means for determining when to use the coarse filter, or the fine filter, or the combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control element comprises a fluid switch for establishing a first path through the first flow control element when the contaminant level is greater than the threshold value and for establishing a second path through the first flow control element when the contaminant level is less than or equal to the threshold value. 
     
     
       5. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the controller comprises means for determining when to use the first path and when to use the second path. 
     
     
       6. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first flow control element comprises a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a flow sensor, or a combination thereof 
     
     
       7. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the decontamination module comprises:
 a chamber having an input device and an output device coupled thereto; and 
 a temperature control subsystem coupled to the chamber. 
 
     
     
       8. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the input device comprises means for vaporizing a fluid entering the input device. 
     
     
       9. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the input device comprises a needle valve. 
     
     
       10. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the decontamination module further comprises a pressure control subsystem coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second filter element comprises a coarse filter, or a fine filter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the controller comprises means for determining when to use the coarse filter, or the fine filter, or the combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second flow control element comprises a fluid switch for establishing a first path through the second flow control element when the contaminant level is greater than the threshold value and for establishing a second path through the second flow control element when the contaminant level is less than or equal to the threshold value. 
     
     
       14. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the controller comprises means for determining when to use the first path and when to use the second path. 
     
     
       15. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second flow control element comprises a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or a flow sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       16. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid source for supplying a first quantity of the first fluid at a first temperature. 
     
     
       17. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the first fluid comprises gaseous, liquid, supercritical, or near-supercritical carbon dioxide, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
       18. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid comprises a solvent, a co-solvent, or a surfactant, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
       19. The decontamination system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the fluid source comprises contaminated CO 2 .